Football Handles Baylor in Texas Bowl, 44-31 – LSU

HOUSTON – LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns because the Tigers dealt with the Baylor Bears on Tuesday afternoon to seize the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, 44-31.

LSU finishes the season with an general file of 9-4. The Tigers will return to the sector to open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 at Clemson.

Tastes Like Victory pic.twitter.com/zd0PrnuPYQ

— LSU Soccer (@LSUfootball) January 1, 2025

Recreation Recap

The Tigers have been capable of transfer the ball with ease on the opening possession. Once they wanted to maneuver the chains, it was the freshman tight finish who stepped up. On 4th-and-5 from the Baylor 35, Nussmeier discovered Trey’Dez Inexperienced for a 5-yard connection for a primary down. On Third-and-5 from the Baylor 10, Nussmeier discovered Inexperienced once more for a landing connection, giving LSU an early 7-0 lead with 8:31 to play within the first quarter.

With Baylor driving into LSU territory, quarterback Sawyer Robertson was intercepted by LSU freshman linebacker Davhon Keys who returned 40 yards for a landing. The Tigers led 14-0 on the 6:40 mark.

Keys turned simply the third LSU participant all-time with a pick-six in a bowl recreation, becoming a member of Marcus Spears (20 yards) vs. Oklahoma, 1/4/04 in BCS Nationwide Championship (Nokia Sugar Bowl) and Quad Wilson (99 yards) vs. Purdue, 1/2/23 in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

The Bears responded with factors of their very own as Robertson discovered Josh Cameron with a 21-yard landing connection to chop the Tiger result in 14-7 with 14:54 to play within the second quarter.

It solely took LSU 5 performs into the subsequent drive to reply as Nussmeier discovered Chris Hilton Jr. for a 40-yard landing. With the rating, the Tigers prolonged their result in 21-7 with 12:16 to play within the first half. Nussmeier completed the drive with 12-of-13 passing and 119 yards and a couple of touchdowns for the sport.

Hilton flashed once more by working previous his defender and reeling in a 43-yard reception, the place he was downed on the 1. On Third-and-1 from the Baylor 1, Nussmeier discovered Trey-Dez Inexperienced once more for a landing rating, extending the Tigers’ result in 28-7 with 8:46 to play within the first half.

The Tiger protection continued to flex their muscle tissue. On 4th-and-10 from the LSU 40, Robertson was sacked by Whit Weeks and Sai’vion Jones for a turnover on downs. It was 28-7 LSU with simply over six minutes left within the half.

Nevertheless, the Bears captured some momentum to finish the half. A 36-yard discipline purpose try from Damian Ramos was blocked by Baylor to maintain it at 28-7 on the 3:18 mark. And a landing rush from Dawson Pendergrass minimize the result in 28-14 with 1:41 within the half.

Zavion Thomas returned the Baylor kickoff 95 yards to increase the LSU lead again to 34-14 with 1:28 remaining within the half. LSU returned a kickoff for a landing in consecutive video games for its first time within the SEC period (since 1933). Moreover, LSU recorded a number of kickoff return scores in a season for the third time (1937, 1957, 2024). Aaron Anderson had a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD vs. Oklahoma on Nov. 30, 2024.

LSU was capable of pressure a turnover on downs to open the second half as Baylor’s move on 4th-and-6, which was initially dominated a landing, was referred to as incomplete. The Tigers took over on the 9-yard line.

The Tigers gave the ball again to the Bears, nonetheless, as Nussmeier discovered Aaron Anderson for a 33-yard achieve and fumble, which was recovered by Devyn Bobby on the Baylor 45. The Bears would flip it into factors with a 4-yard move from Robertson to Ashtyn Hawkins to make it 34-24 with 6:21 to play within the third quarter.

LSU would flip it over on back-to-back possessions. On Third-and-12 with 4:32 to play within the quarter, Nussmeier’s move supposed for Anderson was intercepted by Garmon Randolph and returned 17 yards to the LSU 26. Nevertheless, on 4th-and-1 from the LSU 17, an errant snap compelled a lack of 36 and a turnover on downs, giving the ball proper again to the Tigers.

LSU prolonged its lead once more with a 4-yard rush from Josh Williams. The Tigers led 41-24 with 14:56 to play within the contest.

A 43-yard discipline purpose from Damian Ramos would make it 44-24 with 9:46 to play within the recreation.

Pendergrass punched in a 3-yard rush for Baylor on the 6:20 mark to make it 44-31.